Building unit



Jan. 25, 1938. v. J. IHULTQUISIT BUILDING UNIT Filed Dec; 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l v. J. HULTQUIST BUILDING UNIT Jan. 25, 1938.

3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 15, 1936 GUM;

3 v. J. HULTQUIST 2,106,177

BUILDING UNIT Filed Dec. 15, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 PATENT OFFICE BUILDING UNIT Victor J. Hultquist, Alcoa, Tenn.

Application 8 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in building units, preferably of block form, constructed with a view to provide maximum strength and load bearing qualities in use, with particular regard to a construction which will employ the minimum amount of material to avoid undue weight.

The primary object of the invention is the provisionof a unit formed with appropriate channels and depressions which in their association with corresponding channels and depressions in adjacent units will afiord passages for the reception of reinforcing elements and for the reception of cement grout or filling to form a substantial interlock between adjacent units and to unite all the units of the wall or other structure into'a substantially monolithic construction.

A further object of the invention is the provi- I sion of a unit in which the channels and depressions are formed vertically, horizontally, and angularly, with respect to the position of the unit-to thereby develop maximum resistance to shearing stresses both between the vertical and horizontal,

' faces 2 and 3 and duplicate end surfaces 4. The

contact faces of the component wall units when the assemblageis completed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the inner or outer face of the unit as a receptor for illuminating means, through the pro vision of an enlarged recess in the particular longitudinal section,

face of the unit, together with means for closing the recess with glass or the like to afiord direct illumination or with a metal panel which may be covered with a plaster .coating to complete the unbroken appearance of the unit;

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective viewshowingseveral units arranged in building relation, each unit being shown as provided with the necessary reinforcement rods, the grout being omitted and each unit being arranged to serve as an illumi nating element. I

Figure 2 is an end view of one of the units.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in plan and partly in the line of section being taken below the diagonal channels.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the transverse median line of the unit, the lamp being shown in the housing recess and the transparent plate applied to utilize the unit as an illuminating unit.

Figure 5 is a view in side of the unit. Figure 6 is a view side of the unit, the lamp and connecting-means and the glass plate being. omitted. Figure '1 is an end view, partly in section, of a unit constructed in accordance with theinvention, wherein the housing recess is blockedoii as when not desired for useas an illuminating unit.

elevation from the inner in elevation from the inner December 15, 1936, SerlalNo. 116,022

Figure 8-is a view in plan, partly in longitudinal section, showing the arrangement of the modified type of unit wherein the housing recess is utilized merely for dead air space.

It will of course be understood that the building unit of this invention is to be constructed of any appropriate or desired material; can be made in any desired relative dimensions; and that, except in the particulars hereinafter specifically referred to, 'each unit is a duplicate of every other unit.

The improved unit, which will ordinarily be employed largely as a building block, is here shown as rectangular in shape thoughobviously the shape as well as therelative vertical and horizontal dimensions are-to be governed by the par ticular service for which the block is designed.

The material employed is such as to permit convenient molding or casting of the unit, particularly with a view to affording substantial and practically identical duplication of all units employed for a particular service.

The block I has duplicate upper and lower surouter and inner surfaces of the block 5 and 8 are differently formed as will appear as the description proceeds. The upper and lower surfaces 2 and 3 are each formed with a longitudinally'ranging channelv 1, semicircular in form and arranged in the mid-width of. the unit. Similar side channels 8 and 9 extend in parallelism to the central channel I, on opposite sides of the central channeland substantially equi-distant from the central channel and the front and rear faces 5' and 6.

' Thev ing rods or elements, as will later appear.

A vertical opening ll extends through the unit from top to bottom'centrally' of its length and breadth. The end surfaces of the unit, also in duplicate formation, are each provided with a vertically rangingchannel l2 arranged at the mid-width of the unit, which channel is of semicircular form in cross section and registers at its upper and lower ends with the respective ends of the channels linthe upper and lower faces 2 and 3 of the unit.

Inclined channels it and M, of semicircular form in cross section, lead from open communication with the channeis B "and 9 in each upper munication with the channel I2. The channels If and I4 communicate with the channel I 2 in spaced relation longitudinally, that is the channels I8 and I4 leading from the upper surface 2 of the unit leads'into the channel I2 materially above the mid-length thereof while the channels I3 and I4 leading from the lower surface 3 of the unit communicate with the channel I2 materially below the mid-length thereof.

The'units are assembled in the usual offset building relation wherein an upper unit is arranged above and equally spaced on opposite sides of the line of juncture of two lower units, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The units in any horizontal row are of course in end contact. It is to be particularly noted that the units are laid in assembled or building relation without the use of the usual mortar or cement between them. When assembled in building relation, it will of course. be apparent that the channels of each unit will register with similar channels in the. meeting surfaces of adjacent blocks to provide circular channels in the assembled units. As a superimposed unit overlies the meeting. ends of two "underlying units, it is apparent that the hole II in the center of each unit is in exact registry with the circular channel formed by the meeting registering channels I2 in the ends of the units supporting the superimposed unit. Therefore, the openings II and the meeting channels I2, which latter when in registry form a hole corresponding to opening'l I, provide an uninterrupted opening extending vertically through the formation built by the units and that there is obviously such a through opening in the center and at a each end of each unit.

The meeting half round channels I2 in the ends of the-unit which form a continuation of the central hole II of the superimposed unit are open to the channels 8 .and 9- on the upper surface 2 of the unit and to the channels 8 and 9 on the lower surface 3 of the unit, through an upper set of inclined channels I3 and I4 which are convergent downwardly and through a lower set of channels I8 and I4 which are divergent downwardly. Of course the'channels 8 and 9 and the incline! ,Qannels I3 and I4 are, when the units are in s. ,embled relation, circular in cross section by means of the similar registering channels in adjacent units.

- Reinforcing -=elements, such for example as metal rods I5, are passed downwardly through the assembled units through the vertical openings provided by the holes I in certain of the blocks "ormed by the-registeringchannels at the meeting ends of the blocks and the central hole II in the underlying and overlying block. Additional reinforcing elements, as 1.0L. I6, are passed horizontally through the assembled units, being .entered in the openings formed by the registering channels 8 and 9 in the upper and lower surfaces 2 and I. The vertical ranging reinforced rods may be easily centered in their openings,

and to insure an approximate centering of'the reinforced rods II in their channels, additional reinforced rods I! are placed in one or more sets in the transverse channels III to underlie and support the reinforcing rods I6, as illustrated in 'Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Cement grout is then poured into the channels,

filling the channels II and of course encirclingand embedding the reinforcing rods I5, filling the channels I, 8, and 9,- the cross channels II and embedding the reinforcing rods II and lent to reinforced poured II, flowing down into the channels I! and channels I3 and II, and so being distributed throughoutand filling all channels. It is of course to be noted that the cement grout when hardened being an integral rounded element interlocks the blocks one with the other on their upper, lower and end surfaces. These cement grout elements form in effect reinforced keys which interlock the units and provide the function of a truss in each course or layer of the units. The multiple courses are further tied together by the vertical reinforcements as well as their vertical and diagonal grout columns. The result is to form a wall, for example, that can be assembled of simple units inv an economical manner and yet when'completed will have the strength equivaconcrete mass of equal thickness. v

The diagonal channels I3 and I4 are important for it is apparent that when grout is poured into the registering channels II and I2, first tending toward filling horizontal channel I, then flowing through channels I0, into channels I, until all the channels are filled, that the air naturally entrained in channels 8 is displaced by the grout and escapes through the lower diagonal channels I3 and I4 into and through channels I2 and II, which act as vents. Furthermore, the diagonal channels I 3 and I4, when filled with grout, provide Y-shaped keys, which ofier the greatest resistance to shearing stresses that are set up between the vertical end faces of the wall units. Furthermore, on account of the position of these di onal keys, there is materially increased resistance as compared with vertical keys against overturning moments acting upon the unit. I

An important detail of the present invention is the formation of the units to receive and support lighting elements and to provide for the passage of telephone or other service cables. To provide for this result, one-face of the block is formed to provide an enlarged housing recess I8. This recess opens through the inner face of the unit and preferably terminates short of the longitudinal median line, and may have an outline shape corresponding to the shape of the unit, though obviously this may be varied at will. The recesses I 8 of adjacent blocks are in communication to horizontally ranging openings I9 leading through the respective end walls of the housing recess, and of course communicating with similar holes of adjacent blocks. Where the housing recess is designed for lighting efiect,

of the units will be required for this purpose.

Where the use of the housing recess is not required for illuminating or other like purposes, an expanded metal panel. 21 may be arranged in a recess 28 surrounding the housing recess, and a plaster coating applied to completely close the front of the housing .recess, the closure being of course finished to simulate the face of the unit. I

.The openings I9 form with the housing recesses a continuous channel for the reception of oi'and parallel tothe central channel, the ends of telephone or other cables, as may be necessary, thus affording a convenient means for the running of cables or their replacement even after the units have been assembled in wall or other holes 28' to not'only lighten the weight of the unit but to afford convenient dead air spaces for insulating purposes. It will of course be apparent that each housing recess also forms an appreciable dead air space for insulating purposes.

The inner and outer marginal edges of each unit is recessed at 29 to provide spaces ofappreciable width and depth at the meeting lines of all units toreceive mortar or the like. which when appropriately pointed up, acts to seal the joints between the units, preventing the escape of grout or moisture. Flu'thermore, the mortar as applied simulates the appearance of the con-' ventional mortar joints.

It-is a well known fact that where external and internal forces act upon a wall,- shearing stresses are setup between the horizontal and 8 be developed, resistance to shearing stresses both between the vertical and horizontal contact faces.

of the component wall units must be-introduced. In the present invention, the key or grout channels are so distributed that when the reinforc ing elements are introduced in the grout channels, and said channels are filled with cement grout, the grout having hardened and aged, reinforced keys are formed which, due to their form and distribution, offer maximum resistance to shear and flexure.

It will be appreciated that while the openings iii are above described-as particularly, designed to receive lighting units, it is, ofcourse, appareat that they may be equally as well employed for the reception of house'heating or elements. Any necessary gases or vapors. to be used in connection withsuch elements could obviously be carried in pipes extending through the openings i9.

What I claim is: 1. Abuildi'ng unit having the upper and lower faces formed with a-longitudinally ranging channel'and side channels on opposite sidesof the longitudinally ranging channel, the ends of the ranging channel, and inclined channels'leading unit being formed with a vertical channel cominto the vertical :channel, the inclined channels providing air vent paths from'the side channels to the vertical channels. i l

2. A building unit having the upper and lower j faces formed with a central longitudinally ranging channel and with side channels on each side formed in the ends of such units.

- forcing rods 'in the unit being each-formed with a vertical central channel communicating with the central channels on the upper and lower surfaces, and with inclined channels communicating with the ends of each of the side channels and with the vertical channel, each of the channels being approximately' semi-circular in cross section, the inclined chann 8 providing two-Y-shaped keys between the ends of adjacent channels and affording entrained air escape from the side channels to the vertical channelsas the side channels are filled with grout. H

3. A building .unithaving the upper and lower surfaces formed with a centrally longitudinal channel, side channels beyond the central channel. a vertical hole 'at the approximate center of the unit anddeading from the central channel of the upper surface to the central channel of the lower surface, the ends of the unit being formed with a vertical channel establishing communication between the central channels on the upper and lower surfaces and with inclined channels establishing communication between the side channels of the upper. and lower surfaces and the vertical channelLf 4. A construction as defined, in claim 2, wherein the' central and side channels of each upper and lower surface of'the unit are in'commu'nication through transverse channels.

5. A wall made up of a series of building units, withthe upper and lower surfaces of each'unit formed with longitudinally ranging and cross channels registering with opposing surfaces of underlying and superimposed units to provide grout receiving openings, the ends of each unit being formed with vertical and diagonal channels establishing communications with the channels in the surfaces of the unit and registering with corresponding channels ini, the adjacent horizontal alined unit to form vertical and diagonal grout receiving openings having free intercommuniea-' tion with underlying and superimpose 5 units and with adjacent units in horizontal alinement.

6. Aconstruction as defined in claim 5, including the provision of reinforcing elements extending horizontally of the assembled unit in the channels formed in the surfaces of said units and vertically of the assembled units in the channels 7. A construction as defined in claim 5, wherein reinforcing rods are extended through the chan-- nels in the upper and lower'surfaces of the unit and in the vertical channels at the ends of the unit, with each of the units formed with a sub-- stantially centrally arranged vertical opening to register with thetcooperating vertical channel in the ends of the units for .the passageof the reinforcing rods vertically through the series. a

8. A construction as defined in claim 5; wherein reinforcing rods are extended through the channels in the upper and lower surfaces of the unit and in the vertical channels at the ends of the unit, with each of the units formed withv a substantially centrally. arranged vertical opening to register with the cooperating vertical channel VICIQR J. HULTQUIST.

channels.- 

